Automatic Configuration of a Load Control System

ABSTRACT

A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether an LED driver for an LED light source is responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected LED driver and/or LED light source. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the LED driver and/or LED light source using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the LED driver and/or LED light source is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/422,723, filed on Feb. 2, 2017, which is acontinuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.14/808,909, filed Jul. 24, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,595,880, issuedMar. 14, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/029,177, filed Jul. 25, 2014, which is incorporated by referenceherein as if fully set forth.

BACKGROUND

A user environment, such as a residence or an office building forexample, may be configured using various types of load control systems.A lighting control system may be used to control the lighting loads inthe user environment. A motorized window treatment control system may beused to control the natural light provided to the user environment. AnHVAC system may be used to control the temperature in the userenvironment. Each load control system may include various controldevices, including control-source devices and control-target devices.The control-target devices may receive digital messages, which mayinclude load control instructions, for controlling an electrical loadfrom one or more of the control-source devices. The control-targetdevices may be capable of directly controlling an electrical load. Thecontrol-source devices may be capable of indirectly controlling theelectrical load via the control-target device. Examples ofcontrol-target devices may include lighting control devices (e.g., adimmer switch, an electronic switch, a ballast, or a light-emittingdiode (LED) driver), a motorized window treatment, a temperature controldevice (e.g., a thermostat), an AC plug-in load control device, and/orthe like. Examples of control-source devices may include remote controldevices, occupancy sensors, daylight sensors, temperature sensors,and/or the like.

A load regulation device (e.g., such as a driver or ballast) and/or anelectrical load (e.g., such as an incandescent light source, an LEDlight source, gas-discharge lamp, etc.) may be configured to respond toone of a variety of control techniques. The control technique may be ananalog control technique or a digital control technique. The analogcontrol technique may include a 0-10V control technique, a 10-0V controltechnique, an analog pulse-width modulated (PWM) control technique,and/or the like. The digital control technique may include a digital PWMcontrol technique, a digital messaging control technique (e.g., such asthe digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) protocol, an ECOSYSTEMprotocol, etc.), and/or the like. However, a control module may not beaware of the particular control technique used by a load regulationdevice and/or electrical load to which it is connected. If the controlmodule is configured to control the load regulation devices and/orelectrical load with the incorrect control technique, the loadregulation devices and/or electrical load may not respond (e.g., may notrespond properly). As such, there exists a need for a control modulethat is configured to determine (e.g., automatically determine) to whichof a plurality of control techniques a load regulation device and/orelectrical load is responsive.

SUMMARY

The present application relates to a load control system and/or acontrol module for controlling the amount of power delivered to one ormore electrical loads, and more particularly, to a load control system(e.g., a wireless load control system) and/or control module able to beautomatically configured to one of a plurality of control techniquesbased on the connected electrical load (e.g., driver and/or lightingload).

A control module may comprise a processor, a memory, a control circuit,a control connection, and/or a power measurement circuit. The controlmodule may be configured to control an electrical load. The electricalload may comprise a driver for controlling a light load (e.g., a lightemitting diode (LED) driver for controlling an LED light source). Forexample, the electrical load may receive power from a power source, forexample, via the control module. The power measurement circuit may beconfigured to measure the amount of power being delivered to the driver.

The control connection may be adapted to provide a control signal to theelectrical load in accordance with a plurality of control techniques.The plurality of control techniques may comprise one or more analogcontrol techniques and/or one or more digital control techniques. Theone or more analog control techniques may comprise a 0-10V controltechnique, a 10-0V control technique, an analog PWM control technique, aswitching-only control technique, a phase-control control technique,and/or the like. The one or more digital control techniques may comprisea digital PWM control technique, a digital messaging control technique(e.g., such as the digital addressable lighting interface (DALI)protocol, an ECOSYSTEM protocol, etc.), and/or the like.

The control circuit may be configured to sequentially generate thecontrol signal at the control connection according to each of theplurality of control techniques, for example, in any order orcombination. The control circuit may be configured to determine if theelectrical load is responsive to at least one of the plurality ofcontrol techniques, for example, by monitoring a parameter of theelectrical load (e.g., the driver and/or the lighting load). Forexample, the control circuit may be configured to attempt to adjust anintensity of the lighting load to a predetermined intensity using one ofthe control techniques, and measure the power being consumed by thedriver and/or the lighting load at the predetermined intensity todetermine if the driver is responsive to the control technique. If thecontrol circuit determines that the driver is not responsive to thecontrol technique, the control circuit may attempt to adjust theintensity of the lighting load to the predetermined intensity usinganother one of the control techniques, and determine if the driver isresponsive. The predetermined intensity may be a high-end intensityand/or a low-end intensity. For example, the control circuit may beconfigured to attempt to adjust the intensity of the lighting load tothe high-end intensity and/or to the low-end intensity using one of thecontrol techniques, and to measure the power being consumed by thedriver and/or the lighting load at the high-end intensity and/or at thelow-end intensity to determine if the driver is responsive to theselected control technique.

The control circuit may be configured to transmit a digital message, inaccordance with a digital control technique, to the driver via thecontrol connection. The control circuit may be configured to determineif the driver transmits a response to the digital message to determineif the driver is responsive to the control technique. The controlcircuit may be configured to receive a digital message according to adigital control technique, the digital message indicating a measuredintensity of the lighting load, and to determine if the driver isresponsive to the control technique based on the measured intensity.

If the control circuit determines that the electrical load is responsiveto a specific control technique, the control circuit may be configuredto control the electrical load using the specific control techniqueduring normal operation. If the control circuit determines that theelectrical load is not responsive to the control techniques other than aswitching-only control technique, the control circuit may be configuredto control the electrical load using the switching-only controltechnique during normal operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simple wiring diagram of a load control system having aplurality of controllable lighting fixtures, each with a control module,a load regulation device (e.g., a driver), and a lighting source, forilluminating a space.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a control module for controllinga driver for a light source.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are simplified flowcharts of an example procedureexecuted by a control module that is adapted to control load regulationdevices by a plurality of different control methods or techniques todetermine the appropriate control technique to use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a simple wiring diagram of a load control system 100comprising a plurality of controllable lighting fixtures 110 forilluminating a space. Each lighting fixture 110 may comprise a lightingload, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED) light source 112, and/or arespective load regulation device, e.g., an LED driver 114, forcontrolling the lighting load. Each light fixture 110 may comprise arespective control module 115 that is adapted to be coupled to a powersource, e.g., an alternating-current (AC) power source providing a linevoltage. The control module 115 may be configured to provide power tothe driver 114 via power wiring 118. The control module 115 may beconfigured to generate one or more control signals, which may beprovided to the driver 114 via control wiring 119 for controlling theLED light source 112. The control module 115 may be mounted to aninternal or external surface of the respective fixture 110 or to ajunction box located adjacent to the fixture. An example of an assemblyof a control module is described in greater detail in commonly-assignedU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0313456, published Dec. 13,2012, entitled LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY ISOLATEDANTENNA, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

The driver 114 may be configured to control the power delivered to thelight source 112, and thus the intensity of the light source 112 inresponse to the control signals received via the control wiring 119. Thedriver 114 may be configured to turn the light source 112 on and off andto adjust the intensity of the light source 112 between a low-end(minimum) intensity L_(LE) and a high-end (maximum) intensity L_(HE).The driver 114 may be configured to control the power delivered to thelight source 112, for example, by regulating the voltage generatedacross the light source and/or regulating the current conducted throughthe light source. Examples of LED drivers are described in greaterdetail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,492,987, issued Jul. 23,2013, entitled LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHTSOURCE, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0009084,published Jan. 9, 2014, entitled FORWARD CONVERTER HAVING A PRIMARY-SIDECURRENT SENSE CIRCUIT, the entire disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

The control module 115 may be configured to control a plurality ofdifferent types of drivers 114. The control module 115 may be configuredto generate appropriate control signals for controlling drivers 114having different types of control inputs (e.g., control techniques). Thedriver 114 that is coupled to the control module 115 in each lightingfixture 110 may be responsive to a subset of control signals (e.g., asingle type, or more than one control signal) received via the controlwiring 119.

The driver 114 may be responsive to an analog control signal, such as a0-10V control signal, a 10-0V control signal, an analog PWM controlsignal, and/or other types of analog control signal, received via thecontrol wiring 119. An analog PWM control signal may have, for example,a duty cycle that indicates the target intensity for the respectivelighting source 112. For example, the driver 114 may control therespective light source 112 to the low-end intensity L_(LE) when theanalog PWM control signal has a duty cycle of 0%, to the high-endintensity L_(HE) when the analog PWM control signal has a duty cycle of100%, and to an intensity that is linearly scaled between the low-endintensity L_(LE) and the high-end intensity L_(HE) when the analog PWMcontrol signal has a duty cycle between 0% and 100%.

A 0-10V control signal and a 10-0V control signal may have a DCmagnitude that ranges between zero and ten volts and indicates a targetintensity for the respective light source 112. When receiving a 0-10Vcontrol signal, the driver 114 may control the respective light source112 to the low-end intensity L_(LE) when the 0-10V control signal has amagnitude of one volt, to the high-end intensity L_(HE) when the 0-10Vcontrol signal has a magnitude of ten volts, and to an intensity that islinearly scaled between the low-end intensity L_(LE) and the high-endintensity L_(HE) when the 0-10V control signal has a magnitude betweenone and ten volts. When receiving a 10-0V control signal, the driver 114may control the respective light source 112 to the low-end intensityL_(LE) when the 10-0V control signal has a magnitude of ten volts, tothe high-end intensity L_(HE) when the 10-0V control signal has amagnitude of one volt, and to an intensity that is linearly scaledbetween the low-end intensity L_(LE) and the high-end intensity L_(HE)when the 10-0V control signal has a magnitude between ten and one volts.

The driver 114 may be responsive to a digital control technique. Forexample, the driver 114 may be responsive to a digital control signal,such as a digital message, a digital PWM control signal, and/or otherdigital control signal, received via the control wiring 119. The digitalPWM control signal may have digital information encoded in thepulse-width and/or frequency of the signal.

The control module 115 may transmit a digital message to the driver 114via the control wiring 119, e.g., using a standard protocol, such as theDALI protocol, or a proprietary protocol, such as the ECOSYSTEMprotocol. The DALI and ECOSYSTEM protocols may be related, such that ifa driver is responsive to commands from the ECOSYSTEM protocol, thedriver will also be responsive to commands from the DALI protocol.However, a driver that is responsive to commands from a standardprotocol may not be responsive to commands from a proprietary protocol,and vice versa. For example, a driver that is responsive to commandsfrom the DALI protocol may not be responsive to commands from theECOSYSTEM protocol. The driver 114 may be responsive to digital messagestransmitted according to other protocols that are not related to eachother.

The driver 114 may be responsive to a control signal received via thepower wiring 118, e.g., a phase-control signal or a power-linecommunication (PLC) signal. For example, the driver 114 may not beresponsive to an analog control signal or digital control signalreceived via the control wiring 119, but may be responsive to a controlsignal received via the power wiring 118. The driver 114 may not beresponsive to control signals received via the power wiring 118 or thecontrol wiring 119, e.g., the driver 114 may simply be responsive toswitching control only via the power wiring 118.

The lighting fixture 110 may comprise a different type of light sourceother than an LED light source (e.g., a fluorescent lamp), and thedriver 114 may comprise an appropriate load regulation circuit for thedifferent light source (e.g., an electronic dimming ballast circuit).Examples of ballasts are described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,489,090, issued Feb. 10, 2009,entitled ELECTRONIC BALLAST HAVING ADAPTIVE FREQUENCY SHIFTING, and U.S.Pat. No. 8,593,076, issued Nov. 29, 2013, entitled ELECTRONIC DIMMINGBALLAST HAVING ADVANCED BOOST CONVERTER CONTROL, the entire disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated by reference. The lighting fixture 110may comprise a light source that may be driven directly by the controlmodule 115 via the power wiring 118, e.g., an incandescent or halogenlamp, such that the driver 114 is not required.

The lighting fixture 110 may comprise a sensor device 116 that may beelectrically coupled to the respective control module 115. The sensordevice 116 may be mounted to the lighting fixture 110 (e.g., on a loweror outward-facing surface of the lighting fixture) or external to thelighting fixture 110 (e.g., on a ceiling or wall of the space in whichthe lighting fixtures are installed).

The sensor device 116 may be configured to detect occupancy and vacancyconditions in the space in which the respective lighting fixture 110 isinstalled. The control module 115 may be configured to control therespective driver 114 in response to the sensor device 116 determiningthat the space is occupied or vacant. For example, the control module115 may be configured to turn on the light source 112 in response todetermining that the space is occupied and to turn off the light sourcein response to determining that the space is unoccupied (e.g., as withan “occupancy” sensor). The control module 115 may be configured to onlyturn off the light source in response to determining that the space isunoccupied, i.e., turn on the light source in response to determiningthat the space is occupied (e.g., as with an “vacancy” sensor). Examplesof load control systems having occupancy and vacancy sensors aredescribed in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.8,228,184, issued Jul. 24, 2012, entitled BATTERY-POWERED OCCUPANCYSENSOR, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

The control module 115 may perform daylighting. The sensor device 116may be configured to measure a light intensity at the sensor in whichthe respective lighting fixture 110 is installed. The control module 115may be configured control the respective driver 114 in response to thelight intensity measured by the sensor device 116. Examples of loadcontrol systems having daylight sensors are described in greater detailin commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,706, issued Apr. 2, 2013,entitled METHOD OF CALIBRATING A DAYLIGHT SENSOR, the entire disclosureof which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The control module 115 may be configured to communicate (i.e., transmitand receive) wireless signals, e.g., radio-frequency (RF) signals 106,with the other control modules 115 of the load control system 100. Thecontrol modules 115 may be operable to transmit and receive the RFsignals 106 with a system controller 120 (e.g., a load controller or acentral controller). The control module 115 may be configured to controlthe respective driver 114 in response to digital messages received viathe RF signals 106. The control module 115 may be configured to transmitdigital messages including feedback information via the RF signals 106,e.g., to the system controller 120.

The load control system 110 may comprise one or more remote controldevices 130 (e.g., a handheld battery-powered remote control) forcontrolling the light sources 112 of the lighting fixtures 110. Theremote control device 130 may be configured to transmit RF signals tothe control modules 115 in response to the actuation of one or moreactuators 132 (e.g., one or more of an on button, an off button, a raisebutton, a lower button, and a preset button). Examples ofbattery-powered remote control devices are described in greater detailin commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,330,638, issued Dec. 11, 2012,entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL HAVING MULTIPLEMOUNTING MEANS, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2012/0286940, published Nov. 12, 2012, entitled CONTROL DEVICE HAVING ANIGHTLIGHT, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

The load control system 100 may comprise a wireless occupancy sensor 140configured to transmit digital messages to the control modules 115 viathe RF signals in response to detecting an occupancy or vacancycondition in the space. The control module 115 may be configured tocontrol the respective light source 112 in response to the RF signalsreceived from the occupancy sensor 140 in a similar manner as thecontrol module is responsive to the sensor device 116. Examples ofwireless occupancy and vacancy sensors are described in greater detailin commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,009,042, issued Aug. 30, 2011 Sep.3, 2008, entitled RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCYSENSING, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,199,010, issued Jun. 12, 2012, entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING A WIRELESS SENSOR, the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The load control system 100 may comprise a wireless daylight sensor 150configured to measure the light intensity at the sensor and to transmita digital message including the measured light intensity to the controlmodules 115 via the RF signals. Each control module 115 may beconfigured to control the respective light source 112 in response to theRF signals received from the daylight sensor 150 in a similar manner asthe control module is responsive to the sensor device 116. Examples ofwireless daylight sensors are described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,451,116, issued May 28, 2013, entitledWIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED DAYLIGHT SENSOR, the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

The load control system 100 may comprise other types of input devices,such as, for example, temperature sensors, humidity sensors,radiometers, cloudy-day sensors, pressure sensors, smoke detectors,carbon monoxide detectors, air-quality sensors, motion sensors, securitysensors, proximity sensors, fixture sensors, partition sensors, keypads,kinetic or solar-powered remote controls, key fobs, cell phones, smartphones, tablets, personal digital assistants, personal computers,laptops, timeclocks, audio-visual controls, safety devices, powermonitoring devices (such as power meters, energy meters, utilitysubmeters, utility rate meters), central control transmitters,residential, commercial, or industrial controllers, or any combinationof these input devices.

The control module 115 in each lighting fixture 110 may be configured todetermine (e.g., automatically determine) the appropriate type ofcontrol signal for controlling the driver 114 that is installed in thelighting fixture 110 with the control module 115. For example, thecontrol module 115 may be configured to determine the appropriate typeof control signal for controlling the driver 114 upon first beingpowered up. The control module 115 may be configured to step through oneor more possible control techniques (e.g., one or more analog controltechniques and/or one or more digital control techniques), attempt tocontrol the driver 114 using the selected control technique, anddetermine if the driver is responsive to the selected control technique.For example, the control module 115 may attempt to control the driver114 by generating different control signals (e.g., the 0-10V controlsignal, the 10-0V control signal, and/or the analog PWM control signal)on the control wiring 119. The control module 115 may also attempt totransmit digital messages to the driver 114 via the control wiring 119using different protocols (e.g., the DALI protocol and the ECOSYSTEMprotocol). Upon determining that the driver 114 is responsive to one ofthe control signals or digital messages, the control module 115 mayselect the present control technique for use during normal operation ofthe load control system 100. If the control module 115 determines thatthe driver 114 is not responsive to any of the control signals ordigital messages, the control module may determine to use aswitching-only control technique during normal operation (i.e., thecontrol module will only switch the light source 112 on and off, and notdim the light source 112).

The load control system 100 may comprise one or more other types of loadcontrol devices, such as, for example, a screw-in luminaire including adimmer circuit and an incandescent or halogen lamp; a screw-in luminaireincluding a ballast and a compact fluorescent lamp; a screw-in luminaireincluding an LED driver and an LED light source; an electronic switch,controllable circuit breaker, or other switching device for turning anappliance on and off; a plug-in load control device, controllableelectrical receptacle, or controllable power strip for controlling oneor more plug-in loads; a motor control unit for controlling a motorload, such as a ceiling fan or an exhaust fan; a drive unit forcontrolling a motorized window treatment or a projection screen;motorized interior or exterior shutters; a thermostat for a heatingand/or cooling system; a temperature control device for controlling asetpoint temperature of an HVAC system; an air conditioner; acompressor; an electric baseboard heater controller; a controllabledamper; a variable air volume controller; a fresh air intake controller;a ventilation controller; a hydraulic valves for use radiators andradiant heating system; a humidity control unit; a humidifier; adehumidifier; a water heater; a boiler controller; a pool pump; arefrigerator; a freezer; a television or computer monitor; a videocamera; an audio system or amplifier; an elevator; a power supply; agenerator; an electric charger, such as an electric vehicle charger; andan alternative energy controller.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a control module 200 forcontrolling a driver for a light source, which may be deployed as thecontrol module 115 in the load control system 100 shown in FIG. 1. Thecontrol module 200 may comprise an input hot terminal H1 and an inputneutral terminal N1 adapted to be electrically coupled to an AC powersource for receiving a line voltage. The control module 200 may alsocomprise an output power connection including an output hot terminal H2and an output neutral terminal N2 adapted to be coupled to an externalload regulation device for a lighting load (e.g., to the LED driver 114via the power wiring 118 shown in FIG. 1). Alternatively, the output hotterminal H2 and the output neutral terminal N2 may be coupled directlyto an external lighting load.

The control module 200 may comprise a controllably conductive device 210coupled in series electrical connection between the input hot terminalH1 and the output hot terminal H2 for controlling the power delivered tothe external driver and/or external lighting load. The controllablyconductive device 210 may comprise, for example, a relay, abidirectional semiconductor switch (e.g., such as, a triac, a FET in arectifier bridge, two FETs in anti-series connection, or one or moreinsulated-gate bipolar junction transistors), or any other suitableswitching circuit. The controllably conductive device 210 may beconfigured to conduct a load current I_(LOAD) to the driver and/orlighting load. The input neutral terminal N1 may be coupled directly tothe output neutral terminal N2. The control module 200 may alternativelycomprise a single neutral terminal adapted to be coupled to the AC powersource and the driver and/or lighting load.

The control module 200 may comprise a control circuit 220 that may becoupled to the controllably conductive device 210 for rendering thecontrollably conductive device conductive and/or non-conductive tocontrol the power delivered to the driver and/or lighting load. Forexample, the control circuit 220 may comprise a microcontroller, aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a microprocessor, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), or any suitable processing device, controller, or controlcircuit. The control module 200 may comprise memory (not shown). Thememory may be implemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or asan internal circuit of the control circuit 220. The memory may operateto store information such as computer-executable instructions,configuration settings associated with operation of the control module200 (e.g., the responsive control technique), and/or the like. Thememory may include one or more components of volatile and/ornon-volatile memory, in any combination.

The control module 200 may comprise a power supply 222 coupled betweenthe input hot terminal H1 and the input neutral terminal N1 forgenerating a direct-current (DC) supply voltage V_(CC) for powering thecontrol circuit 220 and the other low-voltage circuitry of the controlmodule 200. The DC supply voltage V_(CC) may be referenced to a circuitcommon, which may comprise a non-isolated circuit common (e.g.,referenced to the input hot terminal H1 and/or the input neutralterminal N1) or an isolated circuit common.

The control module 200 may comprise one or more power measurementcircuits, for example, a current measurement circuit 230 and/or avoltage measurement circuit 232. The control module 200 may comprise acurrent measurement circuit 230 coupled in series electrical connectionbetween the input hot terminal H1 and the output hot terminal H2 formeasuring the magnitude of the load current I_(LOAD) conducted throughthe driver and/or lighting load. The current measurement circuit 230 maygenerate a current feedback signal V_(FB-I) indicating the magnitude ofload current LOAD presently being conducted through the driver and/orlighting load. For example, the current measurement circuit 230 maycomprise a sense resistor (not shown) for generating a sense voltage(e.g., the current feedback signal V_(FB-I)) in response to the loadcurrent I_(LOAD) being conducted through the sense resistor. The controlcircuit 220 may receive the current measurement signal V_(FB-I) fordetermining the magnitude of the load current I_(LOAD) being conductedthrough the driver and/or lighting load.

The control module 200 may comprise a voltage measurement circuit 232coupled between the input hot terminal H1 and the input neutral terminalN1 for measuring the magnitude of the line voltage of the AC powersource. The voltage measurement circuit 232 may generate a voltagefeedback signal V_(FB-V) indicating the present magnitude of the linevoltage of the AC power source. For example, the voltage measurementcircuit 232 may comprise a resistor divider for generating a scaledvoltage (e.g., the voltage feedback signal V_(FB-V)). The controlcircuit 220 may receive the voltage measurement signal V_(FB-V) and maycalculate the amount of power presently being consumed by the driverand/or lighting load using the present magnitude of the line voltage andthe present magnitude of load current I_(LOAD) as measured by thecurrent measurement circuit 230. The control circuit 220 may assume apresent magnitude of the line voltage (e.g., 120 V) to calculate theamount of power presently being consumed by the driver and/or lightingload using the present magnitude of load current I_(LOAD), and, forexample, may not receive the voltage measurement signal V_(FB-V).

The control module 200 may comprise a control connection including firstand second control terminals C1, C2 adapted to be coupled to the driver(e.g., via the control wiring 119 shown in FIG. 1). The control circuit220 may comprise a control output 224 coupled to the control terminalsC1, C2 through a driver communication circuit 240. The drivercommunication circuit 240 may comprise a buffer circuit 242 and acurrent limit circuit 244 coupled between the control output 224 of thecontrol circuit and the first control terminal C1. The second controlterminal C2 may be coupled to circuit common (e.g., an isolated circuitcommon). The driver communication circuit 240 may comprise a capacitor246 and a controllable switching circuit 246, which may be coupled inseries between the control output 224 of the control circuit 220 andcircuit common. The controllable switching circuit 248 may comprise, forexample, a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field-effect transistor(FET), or other suitable controllable switch. The control circuit 220may generate an average enable control signal V_(EN) for rendering thecontrollable switching circuit 248 conductive and/or non-conductive. Thecontrol circuit 220 may be configured to generate an analog controlsignal (e.g., a 0-10V control signal, a 10-0V control signal, or ananalog PWM control signal) and/or a digital control signal (e.g., adigital message) at the control output 224 for controlling the drivercoupled to the control terminals C1, C2. The first control terminal C1may be coupled to the control circuit 220, such that the control circuitmay be configured to receive analog feedback (e.g., in case of a miswirecondition at the control terminals C1, C2) as well as digital messagesfrom the driver.

The control module 200 may further comprise a sensor port 250 adapted tobe electrically coupled to an external sensor device (e.g., the sensordevice 116 shown in FIG. 1). For example, the sensor port 250 maycomprise a four-pin connector. The sensor port 250 may comprise two pinsS1, S4 for coupling the supply voltage V_(CC) and circuit common to theexternal sensor device for powering the external sensor device. Thesensor port 250 may comprise an occupancy control signal pin S2 forreceiving an occupancy control signal V_(OCC) from the sensor device,which may indicate an occupancy or vacancy condition detected by theexternal sensor device. The control circuit 220 may receive theoccupancy control signal V_(OCC) and may control the driver and/orlighting load in response to the external sensor device detecting anoccupancy condition or a vacancy condition. The sensor port 250 maycomprise a daylight control signal pin S3 for receiving a daylightcontrol signal V_(DAY) from the sensor device, which for example, mayindicate a light intensity measured by the external sensor device. Thecontrol circuit 220 may receive the daylight control signal V_(DAY) andmay control the driver and/or lighting load in response to the lightintensity measured by the external sensor device. Although notillustrated, the sensor port 250 may comprise a two-pin connector. Ifthe sensor port 250 comprises a two-pin connector, then the two-pins maybe used for coupling the supply voltage V_(CC) and circuit common to theexternal sensor device for powering the external sensor device, and forreceiving an occupancy control signal V_(OCC) from the sensor deviceand/or for receiving a daylight control signal V_(DAY) from the sensordevice.

The control module 200 may comprise a wireless communication circuit,for example, including an RF transceiver 260 coupled to an antenna 262for transmitting and receiving RF signals (e.g., the RF signals 106shown in FIG. 1). The control circuit 220 may be coupled to the RFtransceiver 260 for receiving digital messages via the RF signals 106from wireless control devices (e.g., the system controller 120, theremote control device 130, the occupancy sensor 140, and/or the daylightsensor 150 shown in FIG. 1). The control circuit 220 may be configuredto control the driver and/or lighting load in response to the receiveddigital messages. The control circuit 220 may be configured to transmitdigital messages via the RF signals 106, for example, to providefeedback information to the system controller 120. For example, thefeedback information may include a status of the control module 220, thedriver, and/or the lighting load, the amount of power being consumed bythe driver and/or lighting load, a present intensity of the lightingload, an occupancy or vacancy condition detected by the external sensingdevice, a light intensity measured by the external sensor device, and/orthe like.

The control circuit 220 may be configured to generate a plurality ofdifferent types of control signals at the control output 224 forcontrolling external drivers and/or external lighting loads that mayrequire different types of control signals (e.g., using differentcontrol techniques or methods). The control circuit 220 may beconfigured to generate different types of analog control signals (e.g.,a 0-10V control signal, a 10-0V control signal, an analog PWM controlsignal, or other type of dimming control signal) at the control output224. Since the 0-10V control signal and the 10-0V control signal are DCvoltages, the control circuit 220 may render the controllable switchingcircuit 248 conductive to couple the capacitor 246 between the controloutput 224 and circuit common when generating the 0-10V control signalor the 10-0V control signal. The control circuit 220 may be configuredto generate a PWM signal that is filtered by the capacitor 246 togenerate the appropriate DC voltage at the control output 224. Thebuffer circuit 242 may operate to prevent the capacitor 246 fromcharging through the current limit circuit 244 or the driver whengenerating the 0-10V control signal or the 10-0V control signal. Whenthe control circuit 220 is generating the analog PWM control signal atthe control output 224, the control circuit 220 may be configured torender the controllable switching circuit 248 non-conductive using theaverage enable control signal V_(EN), such that the capacitor 244 is notcoupled between the control output 224 and circuit common.

The control circuit 220 may be configured to generate a digital controlsignal, such as a digital message, at the control output 224, e.g.,using a standard protocol, such as the DALI protocol, and/or aproprietary protocol, such as the ECOSYSTEM protocol. When transmittinga digital message to the driver coupled to the control terminals C1, C2via the control output 224, the control circuit 220 may render thecontrollable switching circuit 248 non-conductive, such that thecapacitor 246 is not coupled between the control output 224 and circuitcommon. To transmit digital messages according to the DALI protocol orthe ECOSYSTEM protocol, the control circuit 220 may be configured toshort the control terminals C1, C2 together to transmit a logic “1” bitand to not short the control terminals C1, C2 together to transmit alogic “0” bit. For example, the control circuit 220 may transmit digitalmessages according to the DALI protocol or the ECOSYSTEM protocol usingManchester encoding. In a similar manner, the driver may short thecontrol terminals C1, C2 together to transmit digital messages accordingto the DALI protocol or the ECOSYSTEM protocol to the control module200. The current limit circuit 244 may operate to protect the circuitryof the control module 200 when the driver shorts the control terminalsC1, C2 together. In addition, the current limit circuit 244 may operateto protect the circuitry of the control module 200 in the event of aninstallation mistakes, for example, if too many drivers are coupled tothe control terminals C1, C2.

Accordingly, the control circuit 220 may control the driver coupled tothe control terminals C1, C2 by generating the appropriate analog ordigital control signals at the control output 224. In addition, thecontrol circuit 220 may control the controllably conductive device 210to render the controllably conductive device conductive andnon-conductive to turn the driver and lighting load on and off.

The control circuit 220 may be configured to control the controllablyconductive device 210 to generate a phase-control signal at the outputhot terminal H2 (e.g., if the controllably conductive device comprises abidirectional semiconductor switch, such as, a triac, a FET in arectifier bridge, two FETs in anti-series connection, or one or moreinsulated-gate bipolar junction transistors). In this case, the drivermay not be coupled to the control terminals C1, C2, but may beresponsive to the phase-control signal to adjust the intensity of thelighting load in response to a firing angle of the phase-control signal.Further, the control circuit 220 may be configured to control thecontrollably conductive device 210 to render the controllably conductivedevice conductive and non-conductive to turn the external driver and thelighting load on and off. Such a driver may not be coupled to thecontrol terminals C1, C2. The control circuit 220 may be configured togenerate the phase-control signal using a standard phase-control dimmingtechnique, such as forward or reverse phase-control dimming.

A lighting load (e.g., an incandescent lamp) may be coupled directly tothe output hot and neutral terminals H2, N2. The control circuit 220 maycontrol the controllably conductive device 210 to generate thephase-control signal at the output hot terminal H2 and may adjust thefiring angle of the phase-control signal to adjust the intensity of thelighting load. Further, the control circuit 220 may be configured tocontrol the controllably conductive device 210 to render thecontrollably conductive device conductive and non-conductive to turn theexternal lighting load on and off.

The control circuit 220 may be configured to determine (e.g.,automatically determine) the appropriate type of control signal forcontrolling the driver that is coupled to the output hot and neutralterminals H2, N2, for example, when the control module 200 is firstpowered up, when placed in an advanced programming mode, etc. Thecontrol circuit 220 may be configured to step through each of aplurality of control techniques and attempt to control the driver usingthe selected control technique. For example, the plurality of controltechniques may include at least one analog control technique and atleast one digital control technique. The control circuit 220 may, forexample, attempt to control the driver by generating different controlsignals (e.g., the 0-10V control signal, the 10-0V control signal, andthe analog PWM control signal) at the control terminals C1, C2. Thecontrol module 115 may also attempt to transmit digital messages to thedriver via the control terminals C1, C2 using different protocols (e.g.,the DALI protocol or the ECOSYSTEM protocol).

The control circuit 220 may then determine if the driver is responsiveto the selected control technique (e.g., an analog control techniqueand/or a digital control technique), for example, by monitoring aparameter of the external driver and/or lighting load. The controlcircuit 220 may monitor, for example, the magnitude of the load currentI_(LOAD) and/or the power being consumed by the driver and/or lightingload (e.g., using the current feedback signal V_(FB-I) and/or thevoltage feedback signal V_(FB-V)) to determine if the driver respondedappropriately to the present control signal. For example, the controlcircuit 220 may control the driver and/or lighting load to the high-endintensity L_(HE) and to the low-end intensity L_(LE) using a singlecontrol technique. The control circuit 220 may measure the power beingconsumed by the driver and/or lighting load at the high-end intensityL_(HE) and at the low-end intensity L_(LE) and determine if these valuesare in appropriate ranges to determine if the driver is responsive tothe selected control technique. The control circuit 220 may beconfigured to measure the light intensity of the lighting load (e.g.,via the sensor device 116 and/or the wireless daylight sensor 150) atone or more intensities to determine if the driver is responsive to theselected control technique. In addition, the control circuit 220 may beconfigured to receive a digital message back from the driver via thecontrol terminals C1, C2 to determine that the driver is response to adigital message transmitted to the driver. Further, the driver may beconfigured to monitor and/or measure the parameter and transmit adigital message including the parameter to the control module 200 viathe control terminals C1, C2.

Upon determining that the driver is responsive to one of the controlsignals or digital messages, the control circuit 220 may select thepresent control technique for use during normal operation. If thecontrol circuit 220 determines that the driver is not responsive to anyof the control signals or digital messages, the control circuit maydecide to use switching control during normal operation. For example,the control circuit 220 may control the controllably conductive device201 to switch the driver and/or lighting load on and off, but not dimthe driver and/or lighting load.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are simplified flowcharts of an example procedure 300executed by a control module that is adapted to control load regulationdevices by a plurality of different control methods or techniques (e.g.,the control module 115 for controlling the driver 114 of FIG. 1 and/orthe control module 200 of FIG. 2). The procedure 300 may be executed bya control circuit (e.g., the control circuit 220 of FIG. 2) when thecontrol module first powers up and the control circuit starts up at 310.The procedure 300 may be performed at a time other than when the controlmodule first powers up and the control circuit starts up, for example,when the control module is entered into an advanced programming mode andthe initiated to perform the procedure 300 by a user.

The control circuit may step through a plurality of control techniquesand determine whether the load regulation device is responsive to any ofthe plurality of control techniques. The plurality of control techniquesmay include one or more analog control techniques and one or moredigital control techniques, for example, in any order and combination.The control circuit may use a variable n to keep track of a presentcontrol technique during the procedure 300. For example, the controlmodule may be configured to use a number N_(CT) of control techniques,for example, six control techniques as follows:

n Control Technique 1 0-10 V Control 2 10-0 V Control 3 ECOSYSTEMProtocol 4 DALI Protocol 5 Analog PWM Control 6 Switching Control Only

At 312, the control circuit may set the variable n equal to one, forexample, such that the control technique is initially set to 0-10VControl. At 314, the control circuit may render a controllablyconductive device (CCD) conductive for supplying power to the driver(e.g., the controllably conductive device 210 of FIG. 2).

The control circuit may attempt to control the driver to the high-endintensity L_(HE) using the present control technique at 316. At 318, thecontrol circuit may sample one or more feedback signals that indicatethe power being consumed by the driver and/or lighting load (e.g., thecurrent feedback signal V_(FB-I) and/or the voltage feedback signalV_(FB-V) shown in FIG. 2). The control circuit may store a high-endpower measurement value P_(HE) in memory at 320 in response to thesampled value of the feedback signal. The control circuit may attempt tocontrol the driver to the low-end intensity L_(LE) using the presentcontrol technique at 322, sample the feedback signal at 324, and store alow-end power measurement value P_(LE) in memory at 326.

If the high-end power measurement value P_(HE) is greater than thelow-end power measurement value P_(LE) at 328 and the variable n is notequal to three at 330, the control circuit may select the presentcontrol technique at 332, before the procedure 300 exits. For example,when the high-end power measurement value P_(HE) is greater than thelow-end power measurement value P_(LE) at 328 and the variable n isequal to one at 330, the control circuit may decide to use the 0-10VControl technique during normal operation. If the high-end powermeasurement value P_(HE) is not greater than the low-end powermeasurement value P_(LE) at 328 and the variable n is equal to one at334, the control circuit may increment the variable n by one at 336 anddetermine if the high-end power measurement value P_(HE) is less thanthe low-end power measurement value P_(LE) at 338. If so, the controlcircuit may select the present control technique at 340 (i.e., 10-0VControl), before the procedure 300 exits. If the high-end powermeasurement value P_(HE) is not less than the low-end power measurementvalue P_(LE) at 338, the control circuit may increment the variable n byone at 342 and the control circuit may attempt to control the connecteddriver and/or lighting control using the next control technique at 316.

If the high-end power measurement value P_(HE) is greater than thelow-end power measurement value P_(LE) at 328 and the variable n isequal to three at 330, the control circuit may attempt to transmit adigital message using a proprietary protocol (e.g., the ECOSYSTEMprotocol) to the driver at 344. For example, the digital message may bea query command that is unique to the ECOSYSTEM protocol (e.g., notincluded in the DALI protocol). If the driver responds to the digitalmessage at 346, the control circuit may select the present controltechnique at 332 (i.e., ECOSYSTEM protocol) and the procedure 300 exits.If the driver does not respond to the digital message transmitted usingthe ECOSYSTEM protocol at 346, the control circuit may increment thevariable n by one at 348 and attempt to transmit a digital message usinga standard protocol (e.g., the DALI protocol) to the driver at 350. Ifthe driver responds to the digital message at 352, the control circuitmay select the present control technique at 332 (i.e., DALI protocol)and the procedure 300 exits. If the driver did not respond to thedigital message transmitted using the DALI protocol at 352, the controlcircuit may increment the variable n by one at 354 and the controlcircuit may attempt to control the connected driver and/or lightingcontrol using the next control technique at 316.

If the high-end power measurement value P_(HE) is not greater than thelow-end power measurement value P_(LE) at 328 and the variable n is notequal to one at 334, the control circuit may determine if the variable nis greater than or equal to the number N_(CT) of control techniques at356. If not, the control circuit increments the variable n by one at 358and control circuit may attempt to control the connected driver and/orlighting control using the next control technique at 316. If thevariable n is greater than or equal to the number N_(CT) of controltechniques at 356, the control circuit may select switching-only controlat 360 and the procedure 300 exits.

The control circuit may use the magnitude of the load current I_(LOAD)at high-end and low-end to determine if the driver is respondingcorrectly to the present control technique, for example, rather thancalculating and using power measurement values P_(HE), P_(LE) in theprocedure 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

While not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the control module may attempt tocontrol the driver and/or lighting load using a phase-control signal anddetermine if the driver and/or lighting load responds correctly. Forexample, the control module may measure the peak value and theroot-mean-square (RMS) value of the load current conducted through thedriver and/or lighting load to determine a current crest factor (CCF),and stop generating the phase-control signal if the current crest factoris too large. The control module may be forced into a mode in which thecontrol module generates the phase-control signal. For example, theinstaller of the control module could short the control terminals C1, C2together (e.g., with a wire), and the control module may determine touse the phase-control technique if the control module determines thatthe control terminals are continuously shorted together. The controlmodule may attempt to control the driver and/or lighting load using thephase-control signal and determine if the driver and/or lighting loadresponds correctly before, during, or after attempting the plurality ofcontrol techniques.

Further, the control module may comprise a programming input, e.g., adual-inline package (DIP) switch, for setting the appropriate controltechnique for use by the control module (e.g., which may be referred toas an advanced programming mode). The DIP switch may comprise enoughindividual mechanical switches or positions to provide a unique switchsetting for each of the plurality of control techniques that the controlmodule is capable of generating. For example, the installer of thecontrol module may adjust the DIP switch to the unique switch settingfor the desired control technique during installation of the controlmodule. At startup, the control circuit may read the unique switchsetting to determine which control technique to use during normaloperation. In addition, one of the unique switch settings of the DIPswitch may select an automatic control-determination procedure in whichthe control module may execute the procedure 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B todetermine the appropriate control technique to use.

After a control technique is selected using the DIP switch and thecontrol module is powered up, the control module could execute theprocedure 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B to confirm that the appropriate controltechnique is selected. If the control technique selected by the DIPswitch does not match the control technique determined by the procedure300, the control module may override the control technique to thetechnique selected by the procedure 300 and/or may notify the user of anerror condition (e.g., by blinking a visual indicator on the controlmodule and/or blinking or adjusting the intensity of the lighting load).

What is claimed is:
 1. A control module for controlling a loadregulation device for a lighting load, the control module comprising: acontrol connection for providing control signals to the load regulationdevice in accordance with a plurality of control techniques, the controltechniques comprising one or more analog control techniques and one ormore digital control techniques; and a control circuit configured tosequentially generate control signals at the control connectionaccording to two or more of the plurality of control techniques anddetermine if the load regulation device is responsive to one or more ofthe plurality of control techniques; wherein, upon determining that theload regulation device is responsive to one of the plurality of controltechniques, the control circuit is configured to select the one of theplurality of control techniques to which the load regulation device isresponsive, and use the selected one of the plurality of controltechniques to control the load regulation device to control the lightingload.
 2. The control module of claim 1, further comprising: a drivercommunication circuit coupled to the control connection for generatingthe control signals at the control connection according to the pluralityof control techniques.
 3. The control module of claim 2, wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to control the driver communicationcircuit to generate a digital control signal at the control connectionto control the load regulation device.
 4. The control module of claim 3,wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a digital controlsignal from the load regulation device via the driver communicationcircuit.
 5. The control module of claim 3, wherein the digital controlsignal comprises a digital message transmitted using at least one of adigital addressable lighting interface (DALI) protocol and an ECOSYSTEMprotocol.
 6. The control module of claim 2, wherein the control circuitis configured to control the driver communication circuit to generate ananalog control signal at the control connection to control the loadregulation device.
 7. The control module of claim 6, wherein the analogcontrol signal comprises at least one of a 0-10V control signal, a 10-0Vcontrol signal, and an analog PWM control signal.
 8. The control moduleof claim 1, wherein the control connection is adapted to be coupled tothe load regulation device, and the control circuit is configured todetermine if the load regulation device is responsive to at least one ofthe plurality of control techniques by monitoring a parameter of atleast one of the load regulation device and the lighting load.
 9. Thecontrol module of claim 8, further comprising: a power measurementcircuit for measuring an amount of power delivered to the loadregulation device; wherein the control circuit is configured to attemptto control the load regulation device to adjust an intensity of thelighting load using one of the plurality of control techniques and tomeasure the amount of power consumed by at least one of the loadregulation device and the lighting load to determine if the loadregulation device is responsive to the one of the plurality of controltechniques.
 10. The control module of claim 8, wherein the controlcircuit is configured to transmit a digital message to the loadregulation device via the control connection using one of the pluralityof control techniques, the control circuit configured to determine ifthe load regulation device transmitted a response to the digital messageto determine if the load regulation device is responsive to the one ofthe plurality of control techniques.
 11. The control module of claim 8,wherein the control circuit is configured to attempt to adjust anintensity of the load regulation device using one of the plurality ofcontrol techniques, the control circuit configured to receive a digitalmessage indicating a measured intensity of the lighting load and todetermine that the load regulation device is responsive to the one ofthe control techniques using the measured intensity.
 12. The controlmodule of claim 1, further comprising: a wireless communication circuitconfigured to transmit and receive wireless signals; wherein the controlcircuit is configured to control the load regulation device to adjust anintensity of the lighting load in response to wireless signals receivedvia the wireless communication circuit.
 13. The control module of claim12, wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit wirelesssignals including feedback information regarding the load regulationdevice via the wireless communication circuit.
 14. The control module ofclaim 12, wherein the wireless communication circuit comprises aradio-frequency transceiver.
 15. A method for controlling a lightingload comprising: sequentially providing control signals to a loadregulation device for the lighting load according to two or more of aplurality of control techniques, the control techniques comprising oneor more analog control techniques and one or more digital controltechniques; and determining if the load regulation device is responsiveto one or more of the plurality of control techniques; upon determiningthat the load regulation device is responsive to one of the plurality ofcontrol techniques, selecting the one of the plurality of controltechniques to which the load regulation device is responsive; andsubsequently controlling the load regulation device to control thelighting load using the selected one of the plurality of controltechniques.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining if the loadregulation device is responsive to one or more of the plurality ofcontrol techniques comprises monitoring a parameter of at least one ofthe load regulation device and the lighting load to determine if theload regulation device is responsive to one or more of the plurality ofcontrol techniques.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:attempting to control the load regulation device to adjust an intensityof the lighting load using one of the plurality of control techniques;and measuring an amount of power consumed by at least one of the loadregulation device and the lighting load to determine if the loadregulation device is responsive to the one of the plurality of controltechniques.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: transmittinga digital message to the load regulation device using one of theplurality of control techniques; and determining if the load regulationdevice transmitted a response to the digital message to determine if theload regulation device is responsive to the one of the plurality ofcontrol techniques.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:attempting to control the load regulation device to adjust an intensityof the lighting load using one of the plurality of control techniques;receiving a digital message indicating a measured intensity of thelighting load; and determining if the load regulation device isresponsive to one of the plurality of control techniques using themeasured intensity.
 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:receiving a wireless signal; wherein the controlling the load regulationdevice comprises controlling the load regulation device to adjust anintensity of the lighting load in response to the wireless signal.